WHY:
To recognize real-life events that exemplify exceptional stories of
bravery and heroism.

During the awards presentation, audience members will hear about
officers facing harrowing, deadly circumstances in the line of duty
as they protect and serve. These larger-than-life encounters
include:

* On the early morning of January 2, 2018, Southeast Officers Evan
Mott, Sal Obaidee, and Anthony Valenzuela were on patrol when they
observed a structure fire of a two-story complex. An apartment on
the second was engulfed in flames. Without hesitation, Officers
began knocking on the doors of the apartment complex to alert
residents to evacuate. The officers evacuated and cleared the
building of the final four occupants. Without the help of the
officers, the lives of the four would have been in imminent
peril.

* On the evening of August 31, 2017, Harbor Officer Jeromy
Paciorkowski, was conducting crime suppression activities with his
partner when they observed a cloud of black smoke two block west of
their location. Officer Paciorkowski responded to the scene and
observed a two-story duplex on fire with thick black smoke pouring
from the front door and second story windows. After hearing a man
yell a child was trapped inside, Officer Paciorkowski climbed a
ladder to the second story roof landing, where he fought flames and
black smoke. He met with two other bystanders who helped him pull
the security bars off the window. Fighting the deep smoke and
intense heat, he courageously reached in and pulled the child out
of the apartment through the window onto the roof. The child
sustained significant burns to her body and was not breathing.
Officer Paciorkowski began CPR and the child began breathing
again.

* On the night of July 19, 2016, Officer Paul Razo was off-duty,
driving with his brothers in the City of Glendora when he observed
a vehicle with the front end smashed in and smoking. Sadly, Officer
Razo observed the driver was killed on impact. He immediately made
his attempt to render aid to the passenger. With intense smoke and
flames billowing from the vehicle, Officer Razo courageously
reached into the vehicle, unbuckled the passenger, pulling him out
of the burning vehicle to safety.

* On December 2, 2014, Police Officers Juan Lopez, Thomas
Schoonyan, Lloyd De Charmoy Bouchet, and Andrew Paxton responded to
a 911 radio call of a screaming woman in a Downtown Los Angeles
apartment. Upon arrive, they could hear the victim's repeated
screams for help. They breached the front door and entered and
observed the suspect, the victim's boyfriend, in a drug-fueled
rage, standing over the bloodied victim with a knife raised over
the victim. Officers ordered the suspect to move back, but the
suspect ignored the officers. Fearing for the victim's life, an
officer fired one round at the suspect while another officer
simultaneously deployed the Taser, stopping the attack. The
officers quickly rendered aid to the victim to stop the profuse
bleeding from her neck. When the ambulance arrived, the victim was
treated for multiple stab wounds and lacerations and
survived.

* One the morning of January 1, 2016, Metropolitan K9 Platoon
Officers Hans Almaraz, Steven Carnevale, Nhut Huyhn, and Steven
Jenkins responded to the end of a pursuit in the City of Long Beach
initiated by Harbor Area officers pursuing two suspects who had
committed a violent carjacking and were responsible for a series of
armed robberies and a homicide in the San Fernando Valley. At the
termination of the pursuit, the suspect forced his way into a
residence, terrorizing the family. The suspect stabbed the father,
and shot two of his sons. The father and two sons escaped. The K9
officers responded, breached the door while confronted with
gunfire. As the officers entered, they heard a single gunshot from
close-proximity. K9 Edo went directly to the two wounded hostages,
quickly turned to an adjoining room and located the suspect, who
had sustained a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

ADDITIONAL:
The mission of the Los Angeles Police Foundation (LAPF) is to
create partnerships to provide resources and programs that help the
LAPD perform at their highest level and to enhance LAPD-community
relations. Since its founding in 1998, the LAPF has invested nearly
$28 million in grants to the LAPD in the areas of equipment and
technology upgrades, specialized training, community outreach, and
youth programs.

INTERVIEWS:
Medal of Valor, Purple Heart and Preservation of Life honorees will
be available for print and television broadcast interviews on
Thursday, September 27, 2018. To make advance arrangements for
interviews, please contact Police Officer Jeffrey Lee, LAPD Media
Relations Section, at (213) 486-5910. Officer Lee will be
available to facilitate interviews on the day of the event.

CONTACT:
For more information, please contact Police Officer Nguyet Amancio,
LAPD Community Outreach and Development Division, at (213) 486-6000
or (213) 841-2075. For information about the Los Angeles Police
Foundation, please call Cecilia Glassman at (213) 489-4636 or
visit: www.lapolicefoundation.org.